How to Get Life Insurance with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Navigating neurological underwriting and securing the best term rates available

A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) brings with it a host of questions about the future, both for your health and your finances. One of the most common concerns we hear is, "Can I still get life insurance?"

The answer, in many cases, is a reassuring yes.

While securing financial protection with a chronic neurological condition like MS requires a more detailed approach, it is far from impossible. Insurers have become increasingly sophisticated in their understanding of MS, and with the right guidance, you can secure the cover you need to protect your family's future.

This definitive guide will walk you through every aspect of applying for life insurance and other protection products with MS in the UK. We will demystify the underwriting process, explain your options, and provide the expert insights you need to get the best possible outcome.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis from an Insurer's Perspective

To an underwriter, MS is a chronic, variable, and unpredictable condition. Their primary goal is to assess the long-term risk and how the condition might impact your life expectancy or ability to work. They are not making a medical judgement; they are making a statistical risk assessment.

Insurers will want to understand the specifics of your diagnosis. They will typically look at:

• Type of MS: The majority of people are diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS), which insurers often view more favourably than Progressive forms of MS (Secondary Progressive or Primary Progressive) due to its periods of stability.
• Date of Diagnosis: A more recent diagnosis may lead an insurer to postpone a decision until a clearer pattern of symptoms and stability has been established.
• Symptoms and Severity: Underwriters will ask about mobility issues, cognitive function, fatigue, and any other symptoms that affect your daily life. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), if known, can be a helpful metric for them.
• Relapses: The frequency and severity of your relapses, and importantly, the date of your last one, are critical indicators of the condition's stability.
• Treatment: Details of your current and past treatments (e.g., Disease-Modifying Therapies) help the insurer build a complete picture of how your MS is being managed.

Key takeaway: A well-managed condition with minimal symptoms and long periods of stability between relapses will always result in a more favourable underwriting outcome.

Life Insurance Options for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Life insurance is the cornerstone of financial protection for your loved ones. It pays out a tax-free lump sum or a regular income if you pass away during the policy term, providing vital funds to cover a mortgage, clear debts, or meet future living costs.

Here’s how the main types of life insurance work for an applicant with MS.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is the most common and affordable type of life cover. It runs for a fixed period (the 'term'), such as 25 years, and pays out if you die within that time. If you survive the term, the policy ends, and no money is paid out.

When you apply for term life insurance with MS, there are three likely outcomes:

1. Standard Rates: This is uncommon but possible for individuals diagnosed many years ago with very mild, stable RRMS and no significant symptoms or relapses.
2. Rated Premiums (A 'Loading'): This is the most common outcome. The insurer will offer you cover but increase the standard premium by a certain percentage (e.g., +100% or +150%). This 'loading' reflects the increased statistical risk associated with the condition.
3. Decline or Postponement: If your MS is progressive, recently diagnosed, or you have significant symptoms affecting your daily life, an insurer might decline to offer cover or postpone their decision for 6-12 months to see how the condition stabilises.

How Premium Loadings Work in Practice

Let's imagine the standard monthly premium for a 35-year-old non-smoker seeking £250,000 of cover over 25 years is £12.

Here's how an MS diagnosis might affect that premium:

Note: These are illustrative examples only. The final premium depends on the specific insurer and your individual medical evidence.

Working with an expert broker like WeCovr is vital here. We know the underwriting philosophies of different insurers—some are far more lenient with MS than others. We can take your anonymous medical details to the market to find the insurer most likely to offer the best possible loading, saving you time and money.

Family Income Benefit (FIB)

Family Income Benefit is a type of term life insurance that pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family, rather than a single lump sum. This can be a more manageable and affordable way to replace your lost salary and cover ongoing household bills.

For applicants with MS, FIB is underwritten in the same way as standard term life insurance. Because the total potential payout decreases over time, the premiums are often lower, making it an excellent and budget-friendly option.

Whole of Life Insurance

Whole of Life insurance is designed to provide a payout whenever you die, with no fixed term. It's most commonly used for two specific purposes: covering a future Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill or leaving a guaranteed legacy for loved ones.

It's crucial to understand how modern Whole of Life policies work.

Modern vs. Older Whole of Life Plans

• Modern Pure Protection Plans: The vast majority of Whole of Life policies sold in the UK today are pure protection plans with no investment element or cash-in value. You pay a premium, and the policy guarantees to pay out a fixed sum on your death. If you stop paying premiums, the cover ceases, and you get nothing back. These plans are simple, transparent, and highly effective for IHT planning. At WeCovr, we specialise in comparing these straightforward guaranteed plans.

• Older Investment-Linked Plans: In the past, many Whole of Life policies were complex investment products (often called 'with-profits' or 'unit-linked'). Part of your premium paid for the life cover, and the rest was invested. These plans aimed to build a 'surrender value' over time. However, they were often expensive, opaque, and performance-dependent. Surrendering them early frequently resulted in getting back less than you had paid in.

For someone with MS, obtaining Whole of Life cover can be challenging and will almost certainly come with a significant premium loading. However, if you have a specific IHT liability to cover, it can still be a worthwhile financial planning tool.

Can I Get Critical Illness Cover or Income Protection with MS?

While life insurance is often available, securing other types of protection after an MS diagnosis is significantly more difficult. It is essential to have realistic expectations.

Critical Illness Cover

Critical Illness Cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious conditions, such as some types of cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

Unfortunately, Multiple Sclerosis is a standard defined condition on virtually all Critical Illness policies. This means:

If you have already been diagnosed with MS, it is not possible to get a new Critical Illness policy. An insurer cannot provide cover for a condition that already exists.

If you already have a Critical Illness policy in place from before your diagnosis, it is a hugely valuable asset. Do not cancel it without taking specialist advice. Check your policy documents carefully, as a diagnosis of MS with persisting symptoms is often a trigger for a claim.

Income Protection

Income Protection (IP) is designed to replace a portion of your lost earnings (typically 50-70%) if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. For an insurer, the risk associated with MS—a condition known for its unpredictable relapses and potential for progressive disability—is very high.

Consequently, it is extremely difficult to get new personal Income Protection cover after an MS diagnosis. Most insurers will decline to offer terms for this type of cover.

What are the alternatives?

If personal IP isn't an option, it's vital to explore other avenues:

• Check Your Employer's Benefits: Many larger employers offer a 'Group Income Protection' scheme as part of their employee benefits package. These schemes often have more generous underwriting terms, sometimes providing a level of cover with no medical questions asked up to a certain limit (a 'Free Cover Limit'). This could be your most valuable financial safety net.
• Executive Income Protection (for Company Directors): If you are a director of your own limited company, you can set up an Executive Income Protection policy. The policy is owned and paid for by your business. While you as an individual will still be underwritten, a specialist broker can sometimes find niche providers willing to consider it. The premiums are also a tax-deductible business expense.
• Review Your Savings & Investments: Assess your financial resilience. How long could your savings support you if you were unable to work? This helps you understand the urgency of protecting your financial future.

The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success

Applying for life insurance with MS requires preparation and honesty. Following this process will maximise your chances of a successful outcome.

Step 1: Gather Your Information Before you begin, collect all the relevant details about your MS. Your underwriter will need this to make an accurate assessment.

• The exact date of your first symptoms and official diagnosis.
• The type of MS you have (e.g., RRMS).
• A list of all your symptoms and how they affect your daily activities.
• The dates of your last relapse and any hospital admissions.
• Full details of all medications and treatments you are receiving.
• The name and address of your GP and neurologist/specialist.

Step 2: Speak to a Specialist Broker (Crucial) This is the single most important step. Instead of going directly to an insurer and risking a decline on your record, speak to an independent protection specialist like WeCovr.

Why is this so important?

• Market Knowledge: We know which insurers have more favourable underwriting stances for MS.
• Anonymity: We can approach underwriters on your behalf with your medical details—but not your name—to get an indicative decision before you formally apply.
• Saves Time & Stress: This avoids multiple applications and potential declines, which can make it harder to get cover in the future.
• Expert Support: We handle the paperwork and liaise with the insurer on your behalf. Our service comes at no extra cost to you.

Step 3: The Application Form & Full Disclosure Once we've identified the best insurer, we will help you complete the application form. It is legally imperative that you answer every question truthfully and completely.

Never withhold information about your MS. Hiding your diagnosis is considered 'non-disclosure'. If the insurer discovers this later—which they almost certainly will when requesting your medical records upon a claim—they will void the policy and refuse to pay out. This would be a devastating outcome for your family.

Step 4: The Insurer's Assessment After you apply, the insurer's underwriting team will review your application. In almost all cases involving MS, they will write to your GP or specialist for a medical report (a GPR). This is a standard part of the process and gives them the official evidence they need.

Step 5: The Final Decision Once the underwriter has all the information, they will make their final decision. This will be one of the outcomes we discussed earlier: an offer of cover at standard or rated (increased) premiums, a postponement, or a decline. We will be there to explain the decision and ensure the terms offered are fair and competitive.

Real-Life Scenarios: Protection in Action

Theory is helpful, but real-world examples show the true value of this planning.

Scenario 1: Sarah, a 38-year-old marketing manager with RRMS.

• Diagnosis: RRMS diagnosed 6 years ago.
• Symptoms: Occasional fatigue and sensory symptoms. Last relapse was over 2 years ago. She works full-time and is on a Disease-Modifying Therapy.
• Goal: A £300,000 life insurance policy to cover her mortgage and protect her young family.
• Action: Sarah works with a specialist broker. The broker approaches three insurers known to be good for MS.
• Outcome: One insurer offers a +150% premium loading, and another offers +125%. She accepts the more favourable offer and secures the vital cover she needs. Her monthly premium is £32, providing her with invaluable peace of mind.

Scenario 2: Mark, a 45-year-old company director with recently diagnosed RRMS.

• Diagnosis: RRMS diagnosed 9 months ago. He has had one significant relapse.
• Goal: To protect his business with Key Person Insurance and secure personal Income Protection.
• Action: Mark's broker advises that personal Income Protection will be impossible to obtain. For personal life cover, most insurers will want to postpone a decision for at least 12-24 months post-diagnosis.
• Outcome: The broker focuses on business protection. They successfully secure a £200,000 Key Person life insurance policy for the business with a +175% loading. The business pays the premium. This ensures the company is financially protected if Mark were to pass away. He sets a reminder to re-apply for personal life cover in 18 months when his condition has demonstrated more stability.

The Importance of Trust Planning

Once you have your life insurance policy in place, there is one final, critical step: putting the policy in trust.

A trust is a simple legal arrangement that separates the ownership of the policy from your estate. When you put a policy in trust, you name 'trustees' (e.g., trusted family members or a solicitor) who will manage the policy and ensure the payout goes to your chosen 'beneficiaries' (e.g., your spouse and children).

Writing your policy in trust achieves three vital things:

1. Avoids Probate: The insurance payout does not become part of your legal estate, so it doesn't have to go through the lengthy and often costly process of probate.
2. Faster Payout: Your beneficiaries can receive the money in a matter of weeks, rather than many months or even years.
3. Reduces Inheritance Tax (IHT): Because the policy is outside your estate, the payout is not typically subject to the 40% Inheritance Tax. For a £300,000 policy, this could save your family £120,000.

Setting up a trust is usually free and straightforward when you take out a policy. Your broker can provide the relevant forms and guide you through the process.

Final Expert Advice

Securing financial protection when you live with a condition like MS can feel daunting, but it is a manageable process with the right expert support.

• Act Sooner Rather Than Later: The younger and healthier you are at the point of application, the better the terms will likely be.
• Focus on Stability: Demonstrating to an insurer that your condition is well-managed and stable is key. Adhering to your treatment plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can positively influence an underwriter's decision. As part of our commitment to our clients' wellbeing, WeCovr provides complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero, to support your health goals.
• Never Go It Alone: Using a specialist broker is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Their expertise in navigating the complex world of neurological underwriting can be the difference between getting affordable cover and being declined.

Your MS diagnosis is a part of your life, but it doesn't have to define your family's financial security. By taking a proactive, informed, and guided approach, you can put the robust protection in place that your loved ones deserve.

Ready to explore your options? The expert team at WeCovr is here to help. We are an FCA-regulated broking firm with deep expertise in helping clients with medical conditions find an appropriate level of cover. We'll compare the whole market for you, handle the complexities, and provide confidential, no-obligation advice.

Sources

• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Association of British Insurers (ABI)
• Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• NHS
• MS Society
• GOV.UK

Disclaimer: This is general guidance only and does not constitute formal tax or financial advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances, policy terms, and HMRC interpretation, which cannot be guaranteed in advance. Whenever applicable, businesses and individuals should always consult a qualified accountant or tax adviser before arranging such policies.